Washing apparatus for filtering fibers



Jan. 22, 1963 TATSUTAKA HAYASHIDA 3,0

WASHING APPARATUS FOR FILTERINC FIBERS Filed Aug. 14, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

F2 A l 4 INV EN TOR my ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 TATSUTAKA HAYASHIDA 3,07

WASHING APPARATUS FOR FILTERING FIBERS Filed Aug. 14, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 3,074,262 WASHING APPARATUS FOR FILTERING FIBERSTatsutaka Hayashida, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, .lapau (70 Hayashida KikaiKogyo Co. Ltd., 44 Sugimotocho, Fushimiko, Kyoto City, Japan) Filed Aug.14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,168 1 Claim. ((31. 68-18) The present inventionrelates generally to washing apparatus, and, more particularly, toapparatus for washing filtering fibres such as pieces of cotton orasbestos used in filtering operations.

In the conventional type of washing apparatus for washing such fibres, apulsator is provided in the bottom of a washing vessel and an annularwater chamber is provided about the outer portion of the washing vessel.The entire surface of the internal wall of the water chamber in thewashing vessel is in the form of wire netting. Holes are provided in theexternal wall of the washing chamber and water which has already washedthe fibres flows out through these holes.

In the operation of this type of apparatus, the contaminated fibreswhich are placed into the washing vessel for cleaning are agitated bythe pulsator and float on top of the washing water. These fibres thusclog the wire netting which is fixed on the inside wall of the waterchamber. Thus, this causes a rise in the water level in the vessel andthe filtering fibres which gather on the inside Wall overflow the edgethereof along with the washing water.

In order to prevent this from occurring, the amount or" water which wassupplied to the washing vessel was reduced, or'the revolving speed ofthe pulsator was reduced. However, when such steps are taken to preventoverflow, the capacity of the Washing apparatus is thereby reduced.Accordingly, the conventional type of washing apparatus is notsufiicient for washing this type of material.

With these defects of the prior art in mind, it is a main object of thepresent invention to provide washing apparatus for washing material ofthe type described wherein the problem of overflowing of the fibres withthe washing water is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide washing apparatus of thecharacter described wherein there is no need to limit the supply ofwashing water or to decrease the revolving speed of the pulsator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washingapparatus which is more efficient than those known in the prior art forwashing the material described above.

These objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished according topreferred embodiments of the invention wherein the washing vessel andsuperstructure is provided of more or less conventional form. However,the pulsator and the exhaust pipe are so positioned in relation to eachother that the limitation of the amount of washing water which can besupplied and the speed of revolution of the pulsator are eliminated sothat full washing capacity can be attained.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical partial sectional view of the washing apparatusof the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pulsator and outletillustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the pulsator and outlet ofanother embodiment of the invention.

With more particular reference to the drawings, a washing vessel 1 isprovided with pulsating impellers 2 located closely adjacent to theinternal surface of the washing Eatentecl .ian. 22, 1963 vessel. Theshafts 3 of these impellers are rotatably supported by bearings 4 whichare fixed to the external wall of the washing vessel. The impellers arerevolved by means of pulley wheels 5.

Annular grooves 6 are provided around the circumference of the impellersand surround the impellers. These grooves may be formed by deforming theexternal surface of the washing vessel outwardly or by cutting a slotinto the external wall and welding an annular channel to the edges ofthis cut out portion.

Wire netting 7 is placed at the circumference of the impellers andcovers the grooves 6. This is as is shown in FIGURES l and 2 whereas inFIGURE 3 annular channels 6' are formed by filtering nettings '7.

The main exhaust pipes 8 are provided and communicate with the channels6. These pipes are provided with exhaust regulating cocks 9. The washingWater intake ill is provided for adding water to the interior of thevessel and a water chamber 11 is formed at the upper outer end of thewashing vessel. Along its entire interior wall 12, a wire netting 13 isconnected and auxiliary exhaust pipes 15 are connected to the externalWall 14 of the water chamber 11.

The contaminated fibres to be cleansed are then thrown into the washingvessel 1 and water is supplied to the vessel by means of intake pipeill. The pulsating impellers 2 are revolved and the filtering fibres arewashed clean due to the water flow therethrough caused by the impellers.in the conventional type of washing apparatus which is not provided witha main exhaust pipe the water intake 1% at the bottom of the washingvessel will form currents which push and force the fibres upwardly andclog the wire netting attached to the internal wall of the water chamber'11 at the outer portion of the washing vessel.

However, in the present invention main exhaust pipes S are providedwhich are connected to annular grooves 6 or 6' in the wall of thewashing vessel 1. The water will first flow through the annularfiltering net 7 or 7' instead of flowing out through the filtering netat the top. Filtering fibres will be carried along with this flow ofwater and they will flow to and tend to clog the filtering wire netting7 and 7'. In both embodiments, i.e., in the convex form of filteringnetting '7 or in the fiat form of filtering netting 7, the nettingssurround the location where the impellers are in operation and thefiltering fibres which become clogged on the filtering netting '7 or 7are thus carried away by currents of water which are generated by theimpellers. The nettings are cleared of the clogged condition and allowproper flow of water out of the vessel.

Therefore, the filtering nettiugs '7 and '7' are never clogged by thefiltering fibres and water may be exhausted in optimum fashion. to mainexhaust pipes 8 are connected to the annular water channels 6 which areinstalled below the water level in the washing vessel. The filteringfibres in the vessel will float on the surface and will not clog theupper filtering net 13 which is located at the upper end of the washingvessel and at the outer circumference thereof, and a sufiicient quantityof washing water can be supplied and the impellers can be revolved atfull speed and provide high efficiency in washing of the filteringfibres.

The particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows a washingapparatus which is equipped with two pulsating impellers at opposingpositions on the external wall of the washing vessel and there are twoannular grooves, one surrounding each impeller. Also there are two mainexhaust pipes, one for each groove, and two regulating cocks and twoauxiliary exhaust pipes. It is not always necessary to provide two ofeach of the above mentioned elements since one of each may be enough toaccomplish the objects of the present invention.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes, andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claim.

I claim as follows:

A washing apparatus for filtering fibers, comprising, in combination: aWashing vessel; and a pulsatingimpeller mounted for rotation in saidvessel closely adjacent the '4 inside wall thereof and below thenormalconstant water level in said vessel, said vessel including an indentedannular outlet surrounding said impeller, a main water exhaust pipeconnected to said outlet, and a flat filtering net 5 fixed over saidannular outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS982,578 Dilg Jan. 24, 1911 10 2,119,254 Whiteley May 31, 1938 2,589,247Guzzetti Mar. 18, 1952

